Circular-knitting machine.



' F. w. nosmsom. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHI'NE.

APPLICATIQN FILED FEB 19; 1-916- 1262y568: I

Fatal ted Apr. 9, 1918.

v 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

awuawto'a F. w. Bosmsow. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

- A PLICATION FILED. FEB. 19,1916. r 1,262,568. Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

v {0 mm? sra rne Parana llhhlifilll.

FRANK 'W. ROBINSON, READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO THE NOLDE 85HORST 00., 0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GIEGULAE-KNITTING MACHINE.

T aZZ whom it may concern: v Be it known that I, FRANK \V. ROBINSON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county ofBerks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and-usefulImprovements in Circulard'initting Machines, of which the following is'aspecification i My invention relates particularly to scamless-hosieryknitting machines; and my main object is to provide a mechanism adaptedto continuously and automatically produce drop-stitch stripes upon theentire I leg and upper-foot portions as nay be defsired, in connectionwith the usual reciprocatively-knitted heel and toe, and solid bot tornfoot portions, and with or Without additionzfl lengthened-loop effectsin. deter-1 I mined 'courses; as fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the completeinvention and the novel features of which are clearly defined in theclaims.

, Figure 1 is an elevation showing portions of a known form of circularknitting machine having the several features of my inproduct of myimproved vention applied thereto in connection with preferred operatingmechanism therefor.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4; are separate views of the ratchet-toothed counting Wheelfor spacing the lengthened-loop courses.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of the camring employed separate dottedlines indicating the several paths'taken by the different needles duringthe regular knitting of the leg courses.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the ca m ring showing the additiof al camsemployed and means for operating them.

Fig. '7 is a detail elevation, looking in the direction of arrow 7 Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View indicating the arrangement of thedifferently hubbed needles in the needle cylinder.

Figs. 9 to 12 indicate the diflercntly formed needles employed, and Fig.13 indicates a machine.

The machine indicated of the 'so-called Banner type employing a rotaryneedle cylinder 2 provided with a circle of needles to which verticalmovement is impartedhy a fixed cani 'ringle. The shaft 5 is employed forrotatirely or reciprocatively idriring the Specification of LettersPatent.

' series, and

l needle cylinder and the usual knitting 01'3- erations .are controlledby the pattern chain of needles while the heel and toe portions of thefoot are produced by rcciprocative knitting employing the approximatelyhalfcircle of rear needles only. This diyision of the circular series ofneedles is usually provided for as indicated in the drzuvings by makingthe cam-engaging butts of the needles of diliercnt lengths; the hallcircle for knitting; the trout of the/tubular stoching having long;butts as indicated hi Fig. 0, While those which produce the rear half ofthe tubularstocking and. the heel and toe portions are provhlcd withshort butts as indicated in Fig. 10.

My invention provides for producinglengthwise drop-stitch stripes asindicated in Fig, '13, during the usual automatic knitting; these beingspaced around the entire circular portion of the leg part of ing and onthe upper portion only ol 'the foot part. For the front half of thestocking, where the drop stitch stripes are to ap pear on both the legand the foot, the corresponding needlcs will not he required at all andmay therefore he removed from the cylinder; but in the rear halt circleof needles all will he required and must be retained. To provide forseparately actuating those that need to be operated so as to causedropstitch effects in one portion and solid elfchts in another portion ofthe circular knitting, I make the cam-engaging butts of these retaineddrop-stitch needles, l2, '32" .Figs. 11 and 12, of a length intermediatethat of the long butt needles 10, Fig, 9, and the shortoutt needles 1.].Fig. 10.

Fig. 8 indicates diagrammatically an arrangement Of'IlBGdlGS in theneedle cylinder adapted for producing a series or drop; stitch effects;10 representing the long butt needles making up one half of the circular11, 12 the shorter buttncedlcs arranged in the other half. A two-needledrop-stitch is V by removing certain oi" the long autt needles Whileamong the short-butt needles 11 are spaced pairs of drop stitch needles12, 12 havingvbutts of a length intermediate the Patented Apr. a, 3918.

Application filed February 19, 1916. Serial No. 79,378.

the stoclo provided for in the front half length 9f the lOllg 11mleiiert but-t. eeeillfle l and 11. Cllzese needles 1:? 2". 11st so anmated m eziuse them is e'voi. limiting elining; lie lmiizl ing e" theponiion (Ff the slimming and i0 tlilo'w them into knit ting action whenthe heel reached ml ieleizi. them in :ie'iiun in eec'ipemtien with theslim-t but? needles 1 C l lllg The knitting; of the remaining pei'tien@l the sin Qkiiig. 1e lllkllClliES iiagmi'iii'niiliezilly the camcylinder 0'5" 21 machine eiiibe lyizig my iii1- p160vein-exits(iSYBlOpQd in 1: i t plane and looking eithe inneir lace iql shois'n,1.5 z'epi'esenfs the leg) center cam; ll The bottom een'ler m, l? theiigl'; Slfil'll mm. 18 the I stile-ii emu, and 3.9 the needle i'esst.The in 'el 01 all Hie needles clu ing the cllCUlfi'l knitting operation,is normally as .imlicaite l by the middle dottecl line 20 29 whichrepresents the line of needle butts; that is from file nee-clierest 15),up right stitch, cam lZ, under tsp eeniei' cam 15 under. left stitch cam18 and back tOllGGdlQ Test 19.

l-Vlien in drag;- s 'tch needles 1? are em- 25 ployed however,theyl'nust be niovecl out of knit lug. eel-i030. (luring the knitting ofthe leg portion of the stocking. accomplish this I provk a drop stitchcam 1'25 which may be zieljusliably eel; iiile the path of ti needlebulls, (.5; sl'iewn in Fig. far along only to engage the intermediatebutt needles 1%) Without engzw "the Slmlii butt needles mljusstnien',said cam these cli'op stitch needles em ()lli of knitting iietiuii byllC stitch 021111 1?, under left stitch em: where iiiey are e but-tneedles W111 Gui-ell U1 -petl1 of file needle butts siiiiici nul v toen- :gage the ineiui'ii'ietliate butt needles 12, would 45 also act uponall the in: g butt needles 1Q employed in making the tubular portions ofllie stocking if itllOTil'Hl to, iiihl I therefore i e might stitch caml eof. I As V it will new be Observed merely lewere l-ne RQQCll G/S theelutclx cam 1'2, but their latches 105 'vii'leil for iig'lllijl lee-wingLliem after they The dzepsldxfih 25 is en meiin'tecl that it may be wilfiein'iilrie path of the needle bulls, Millcll will pemiil, theintern'iediate bu me (lies 19w ride up the (I with the short-lauttneedles 11. l have found however that Where the drop-stitch needles areused in palm 01' more iliere a -i;eii.(leney.f01' them to ii pick up thethread with regularity, musin defective knitting; T0 overcome *rhis lhave provided that (me ofeaeli pair or group of drop stileh needles l2shall be provided with a long latch as indicated. in Fig. This liii'cllismf :1 length sufficient in prevent it clearing the previcus 100p when,8% ll e needle is raieei'l by the right-stitch cam 17, the top portionof the latter being cut away as indicated at 17 so that While theregular latch needles will rise suflieiently to clear their latches the10mg latch needles 1%85 will not clear but will tuck or gather sevv erallayers of yarn. This tucking I arrange will 000111 several coursesbefore the heel is reached; .ancl before the leng latch needles areraised out of action for the re- 99 eiprocaii-ive knitting of the heel,'the cam 26 is moved still farther into the path of the needle butts sothat ii will actuate both long and intermediate butt; m celles. Theefiect then is that boil lcng and intermediate butt 95 needles willltollmi the paih indicated by the top dettecl line 21., end the cam 26is of such av l1 'i lil; lieutiii. -will mise tlie .lm'ip; lelcli:neealles siifiiciently to clear filieir letclie and end he tuckingactieii 0f the latter. we

The cam is retained in this innermost posrtion during the remaining;knitting" 9p eiiazien of the stacking. The fixed cam 27,

he f9 already i sell cleared by lhe'cam 26.

The long lint-6 needles 1% are raised out of action for llie heelportion, filiis being'accemplislied by lhe usual dividing cam 30; theface 30 of the latter however being b11110 llie pl'QSGl'it eenslruetioncut back 330' avoid. raising the intermediaie bull; needles 12.." Afterthe heel is vompleted, by the usual ireeipi'eeatii'e iuu'rei'ving and.wiclenilig, the nine bull needles are again tllrewn into 316 i sitimi b3the mm 31 the letter ably :eneunled as usual on a verl) the mm 30, e0lhe iz une or other may be placed ll'i pesi't-ionn I The circularknitting for the foot portion 1 11;: the el'eelri as usual, except'thatthe mini 26 eiiusesllie needle butts :20 follew the path indicated bydotted line- 21. The drop stitch sti-ipeslwhieh are foi'ined by rem0V-'ing '(il'izllll of like l0ng-butt needles, e011-- 1 5 linue through*lietop poi-lien of the foot, while she wi hdi'zm'n cam peimiis the in-CLJIUCKllHi'G bull; needles 12 to operate with the Slim-l butlneeflles11 to knit a solid Fabric for the boltomportion of the fcot. l3

' mechanism specifically dechown may be readily varled as forapplication to cnccula'r knitting I The complete mechanism scri bed camring instead of to the r, and be otherwise modified witlf'oct departing7 invention as para claims.

l. A semnlerss hosiery knitting maohme comprising; a circle of smleloutt needles made rip of proximately half-clrcle havii mi 1 hutts andan approximately. hal a series some of which have short-butts and othersmedium-butts, and needleoperating mechanism comprising came di ectlyoperative upon said butts adapted to throw said medium hutt needles droptitches? and to automatically throw them into action for regular 3;

A. lash hosiery knitting machine comprising circle of needles made op ofan ,proximately half-circle series having long and an approximatelyhalf-circle sees some of which have short-butts and thc mediumbutts,

said long hutt needles only, mediun'ldmtt needles only, d long-buttneedles into coopora e relati 1 with the short butt needles preliminaryto each loop-forming operation.

sivolv' raising A. seamless hosiery knittin machine co dprismg a circleof needles ma ,e up or an a; proximately half-circle series having longbutts and an approximately half-circle series some of which haveshort-butts and others mediumdootts, and ncedlc-operating mechanismcomprising means arranged to operate during successive courses ofknitting to raise sa d lohghutt needles only, to lower medium-lmttneedles only, and to bring said raised long-butt needles intocooperative relation. with liminary to each loopforming operation.

4:. seamless hosiery knitting machine comprising a 0 le pi siilglemuttnecdles up or. an appromm tely half-circle series war cog butts forcircular '0 Fly, and an approximately halfies cart in of for ,independent operation as drop-stitchj needlesyand needle--operating mechanismcomprising means SUCCGE-blifll} operative updn the different-l ngthbutts in eu ccessive courses for temporarily separating said front nodesof nc-edlec and for throwing said drop-Stitch needles out of knitting Iknitting, means for automatically t rowin. which the rotary motion isimmechanism comprising front series of needles and needle, operatingcomprising means for succes upon different butts a the ,aliorthuttneedles prevadjustable separating which have short hutte and Iotacra ofwhich. {have medium length hut-t5; adapting them action, durin leg- 4ing said drop-stitch needles into action Ior a5 foot-kmttmg. p

5, A seamless hosiery knittin machine comprising a circle of needles ma.e u of an approximately half-circle series havin longbutts and anapproximately half-circle front series some of which have short-buttsand others medium-butts, and needle-operating a dividing cam and aoperative upon said only, and an adjustoperatlve upon said separatingcam both of or into knitting action. 6. In a seamless hosiery knittingmachine having a circle of needles made up of an approximatelyhalf-circle series having long butts and an approximately half-circleseries some of which have short butts and others medium butts a needleoperating mechanism comprisingseparating cam for raising the long-buttneedles, a drop-stitch medium-butt needles, and a levellng cam forlowering the separated long-butt needles.

7. In a seamless hos iery knitting machine having a circle of needlesapproximately half-circleseries having long utts and an approximatelyhalf-circle" series some of which have short butts and others mediumbutts; a needleoperating mechanism comprising a separating cam forraising the long-butt needles, a drop-stitch cam for lowering themedium-butt needles, a fixed leveling cam for lowering the separatedlongwbutt needles, and pattern-operated separating cam and drop-stitchcam.

In a seamless hosiery knitting machine having a circle of needlesprovided with cam-engaging butts of difi'erent lengths, a

"needle-operating mechanism comprising an adjustable separating cam andan adjustable drop-stitch cam each directly operative common operatingshaft for said cams, and pattern controlled means for operating saidshaft to succcs sively actuate said -cams.

9. Ina seamless hosiery knitting machine haying a circle of needlesprovided with cam-engaging butts of different lengths, a needleoperating mechanism comprising an cam, an adjustable drop-stitch cam, acommon operating shaft for said cams, and pattern-controlled means forimparting successive turningand longitudinal movements to said shaft tosuccessively actuate said cams.

10. In al seamless hosiery knitting machine having a (circle of needlesprovided with cam-engaging butts .of diflerent lengths, apoodle-operating mechanism comprisin an adjustable separating cam and anad ustable drop-stitch cam, each directly operative made up of an upondifferent butts, a common operating shaft for said cams, andpattern-controlled means for imparting different turning movements tosaid shaft to differently adjust said separating cam.

11. In a seamless hosiery knitting machine. having a circle of needlesmade up of an approximately half-circle series having long butts and anapproximately half-circle series some of which have short butts andothers mediuln butts; a plurality medium-butt needles being groupedtogether and one thereof having a lengthened-latch; a needle-operatingmechanism comprising a separating cam, adjusting said cam to engageeither the long-butt needles only or the longbutt and medium-buttneedles, a drop-stitch cam, and a stitch-cam of less height than saidseparating cam.

12. In a seamless hosiery knitting machine having a circle of needlesprovided with cam-engaging butts of different lengths, aneedle-operating mechanism comprising an adjustable separating cam andan adjustable drop-stitch cam, each directly operative upon differentbutts, a common operating comprising a needle cylinder and a of said umeans for automaticallyshaft for said cams, loop tensioning andloosening means, and pattern-controlled means adapted to cooperativelyactuate said shaft and loop 'tensioning and loosening meanssubstantially asset forth.

13. A seamless hosiery knitting machine, needle operating cam ring, oneof Which is rotatable and theother vertically adjustable, anapproximately half-circle series of needles in said cylinder, havinglong butts, and a half-circle series some of which have shortbutts andothers medium-butts, needle operating mechanism comprising cams directlyoperative upon said medium-butt needles to throw them out of action forforming drop stitches and into action for regular knitting,- asupporting bar for said vertically adj ustable-member carrying a pivotedtransverse arm, and pattern-controlled loop-ten.- sioning and looseningmeans cooperatively acting upon opposite ends of said arm to producedetermined extremes of tensioning, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK W. ROBINSON.

